DILIGENCE.
Here are so indeed. What mean ye by this? I will not take these to let
ye escape.
[Deliver FRAUD the purse again.
FRAUD. I mean not so, sir; nor I will not give half of them to be suffered to escape; for I have done none offence, though it please them to imprison me, and it is but on commandment[284]. I shall not stay long; but I will give you this purse and gold in pawn to be true prisoner, only give me leave to go some other way, and home to my lodging for my boots and other necessaries; for there I'll leave word I am ridden out of town, and with all the haste that possibly I may, I will meet you at Newgate, and give you an angel for your courtesy. There is the purse. [FRAUD gives him a purse like the other.
DILIGENCE. I hazard, as you know, my lords' displeasure herein; and yet, to pleasure you, I will venture this once; but, I pray ye, make haste, that I be not shent. I would not for ten angels it were known.
FRAUD. If I tarry above an hour, take that gold for your tarrying. [Exit.
DILIGENCE. I do not fear that you'll forfeit so much for so little cause. [Exit.
Enter NEMO, with DESIRE, DELIGHT, and DEVOTION, the three Lords of Lincoln.
NEMO.
My Lords of Lincoln,
Have you such title and such interest
To Love, Lucre, and Conscience as you say?
Who gave you leave to have access to them?
I am their father by adoption:
I never knew of love 'twixt them and you;
And to perpetual prison they were doom'd,
From whence I only might deliver them:
Which at the suit of three most matchless lords,
Their countrymen, in London bred as they,
I have perform'd, and freed them from their bonds;
And yet have bound them in their freedom too,
To Policy, to Pleasure, and to Pomp,
Three Lords of London, whose they are in right,
Contracted wives, and done by my consent;
And even to-morrow is the marriage-day,
Except your coming stay, or break it off.
I will go call their lords to answer you:
They (under covert-baron[285]) meddle not.
[Exit.
DESIRE.
Fetch them, Lord Nemo: we will here attend.
DELIGHT.
Attend we may, but unto little end:
The ladies are in hucksters' handling now.
DEVOTION.
I would I had my time in praying spent,
That I in wooing Conscience did consume.